40. Vaughn
Vaughn
“What do you mean, provide entertainment?” My eyes rolled. “Mr. Wexler, I am the High Master. I am not a host. I am not a babysitter. My Masters come to buy slaves. They don’t need a fancy party or game night at The Order to get what they need.”
“Don’t you enjoy your position at least a little?”
A deep breath left me as I looked at the time. It was late. Too late to be talking about this. “The Order is not like The Garden of the Gods. You chose your position. You were groomed for it. I did not choose this. I accepted it. We are not the same.”
“No.” He sighed. “I suppose we’re not. How are your numbers? Is inventory going well?”
“For the most part, but I’m seeing an issue when it comes to the port. Transport hasn’t been the best. The captains are rebelling. I’m told it’s not just with me. It’s happening all over.”
“I’m hearing the same thing.” Elec paused. “I also hear the king is throwing you a Halloween ball. The costume is going to be everything. You know that, right? What are you going as?”
“I really don’t like you.”
“Because I asked—”
“Because you know too much.”
He laughed. “He wants Penelope. I hear that as well.”
“He’ll catch my blade before he gets what’s mine again.”
A pause. “Go as a dead king. A knight with dark armor and a crown. No jewels, just sharp points. Have them going up and down and have the crown fit over the top of the hooded robe. Make the mask that covers your face threatening. A skeleton like your captor. Wear a cape. Capes are badass. There are no weapon restrictions for you, I hear. Carry a sword. Swords are also badass. But keep a gun on you because sometimes they’re more effective.
Don’t have Penelope match you. It’s too cliché, and she’s too damn pretty.
You want her to shine without taking away from your statement.
I’ll have a picture made and send it to you.
I know the perfect person who can make it.
If you like it, they can have it to you before the week is out. ”
My head shook. “I’ve been trying to figure out what to wear now for days. I feel like I should pay you.”
He laughed. “Pay me by getting Marian off my back. She’s trying to find me a wife. I’m not interested. An heir, yes. A wife, no thanks.”
“How is Marian?”
“A force of nature. Not to mention a pain in my ass. But she’s great. She’s come around. You didn’t break her, if that’s what you were wondering. You created a monster.”
“Good. That’s what I was hoping.”
Elec paused. “…Speaking of heirs. I’m really sorry about your loss. I heard The Council was turned upside-down from what happened.”
“Thank you. I should have known you’d know about that too. I swear, I stay in a state of wanting to kill King Lawrence. If I had evidence this would be a different matter completely. As it is, I don’t.”
“If only I could help you.”
My lips twisted. “With your hypnosis magic tricks?”
He laughed. “I think we both know it has benefits when aimed at the right people. It’s not like I’m… I don’t know… making him confess all his secrets to you or the public.”
My brow drew in.
“You could get him to do that?”
“I could make him do anything. Too bad he’s off limits to me. The Council won’t have it. I have offered my services should they change their minds.”
“…But you could do that? You could get him to confess everything he knows?”
“Unavowed, I could make him hold a press conference and not only have him admit the truth to the world, but I could make him crown you king and then kiss your feet.”
My mind raced. “I wouldn’t be opposed.”
“That makes both of us. I’ve talked to him a few times. Massive ego but dark potential. Too bad they said no.”
I paused. “I’m not surprised, given his handler.”
“You know who his handler is?”
“I found out recently. My own handler confirmed.”
A sound left him. “You know who yours is? How?”
“Elec, you act like you don’t know your own.”
A long pause. “I don’t. I was never told who it was. Who’s yours? Who’s King Lawrence’s?”
“Even I know who yours is.” I laughed. “You mean I know something you don’t? Interesting.”
“Not funny. Who is it?” He let out a small growl. “It’s not Bram Whitlock. Tell me it’s not my cousin. God, if it’s Bram—"
“Would that be so bad?”
“Ugh, no. Dammit. It is, isn’t it?”
“Who better than blood? Especially blood you don’t get along with.”
“Do you want to trade?”
Laughing, my head shook. “No. I’ll stick with Mr. Prescott.”
“Prescott.” Elec whispered his name. “Why is that name familiar?”
“I have no idea, but he’s relatively new.
He’s been my handler about… five years now?
He wasn’t very active at first, but recently he’s come around.
” I paused wondering how much I could tell Elec.
I shouldn’t… yet… I felt I could tell him anything.
He wasn’t hard to talk to. I noticed that the last few times we talked.
If the circumstances were different, we might even be friends.
“Elec… he told me something I wonder is true. Something that could change things entirely if it were exposed.”
“Is that right? What did he say?”
Looking down, I took in my signet ring, tracing my finger over the top. “Do you know the story of how my family became The Black Line?”
“I know a story. I’m not sure how much of it is true.”
“What is the version you heard?”
A few seconds passed. “David Evans, The Duke of Ironhold. Supposedly, he was at the palace, the old one, when a letter was intercepted. It basically showed that King Vaughn was colluding with enemy forces, committing treason. The damning part of it was that it bore King Vaughn’s personal seal.
That would be from the one and only signet ring he wore. ”
“Correct.”
“Well, it’s told that the letter was presented to King Vaughn to confirm or deny.
He was pretty much surrounded by The Duke of Ironhold aka David Evans, Vaughn’s Captain of the Guard, and even the king’s Royal Chaplain.
They confronted him with the letter. When he saw it, he got angry, pulled his sword, and tried to kill them. ”
I swallowed hard. “In black and white, yes. Except, that’s not the entire truth.
What they didn’t realize was that Vaughn’s son watched it all happen.
He said his father denied it. That Vaughn must have realized they were framing him because as he was drawing his sword, the Captain of his Guard was already stabbing him through the heart.
It was a coup, and the queen, her eight-year-old son, and even the Harts had been made aware by Vaughn that something might.
be coming. He suspected they were turning, but he had no idea what they would do.
It got bad really fast. The Duke of Shelton, Theodore Hart, amongst many others, were murdered and their lines lost their titles.
That Duke of Shelton was Vaughn’s best friend.
He was prepared to go to war with David Evans, and would have, had they not murdered him and the others almost immediately. ”
“But you want to tell me something more, Unavowed.”
I nodded, squeezing my eyes shut at the battle to say the words out loud.
“I wear Vaughn’s signet ring. Mr. Prescott…
wanted to know that if I wear it, why King Lawrence has one in a glass case in his own underground secret room?
” I opened my eyes. “He has the evidence. He has the forged signet ring they used to fake that letter of my ancestor’s treason.
It’s right there in his palace, and I’m going to be there for this stupid ball that he’s throwing in my honor. It’s a slap in the face.”
“I see.” Elec got quiet for so long, I wasn’t sure if he was going to continue, but he did. “It’s a big event. It holds a lot of… tension. You, him, in the same place. The Council will most certainly attend.”
“Yes. They will.”
“I think I’d like to attend as well. To… watch. I mean, my own handler has to be good for something. Maybe Bram can get me a ticket so I can attend with him and Everleigh.”
My lids narrowed. “To watch?”
“The drama, of course. Say, I’ve been curious about The Order since I left. Could I stop by as a guest while I’m in town?”
Elec Wexler… at The Order? Hadn’t I been on constant watch while he’d been here before? I didn’t trust him with his odd hypnosis tricks but… if he went… if he perhaps could sway King Lawrence…
“Of course.”
“Perfect. I love costume balls. I’ll be sure to switch ours to the following night. You are free to bring Penelope to The Gardens if you’d like. You’re always welcome here, Vaughn.”
“Thanks. I appreciate it. Speaking of Penelope, I should go check on her. She’s been killing herself in training.”
“For the trials.”
My lips twisted. “Of course you know about that, too.”
“I know everything.”
“I see that.”
He laughed. Take care. I’ll send you that picture and the number on where to get the costume. Hey… can I match you? Not exactly but close. Maybe a few of us? We’d look epic.”
My brows lifted, and I let out a sigh. “Sure.”
“This is going to be amazing. A night we’ll never forget. Take care, Vaughn.”
“You, too.”
I hung up, shaking the buzz from my head. It happened every time I spoke to Elec. I knew he wasn’t messing with my mind. I remembered everything of our conversations, unlike those with Melissa. He was safe. For now…
Standing, I left my office, heading to the training room.
What I saw when I opened the door left my blood going cold.
Penelope was deflecting blow after blow.
They were coming for her so fast and hard I was afraid to move and distract her.
Blood was smeared across her face, and a large bruise covered her cheek.
Even her right eye appeared swollen making me fight not to surge forward.
My fingers drew in, and I was practically bouncing on the balls of my feet as I took in the three men laying on the mat. I wasn’t sure if they were unconscious or dead.
“Faster.” She ducked, springing up and swinging. Able jerked his head back, barely escaping the punch. Again, she repeated. “Reeve, faster.”